Vithoba facts for kids

Vithoba is a Hindu god mainly worshipped in the Indian states of Maharashtra and Karnataka. He is also known as Vitthala and Panduranga. Many people believe he is a form of the Hindu gods Vishnu or Krishna. In pictures and statues, Vithoba is shown as a dark young boy. He stands on a brick with his hands on his waist. His wife, Rukmini (also called Rakhumai), often stands with him.

Vithoba's most important temple is in Pandharpur, Maharashtra. This town is close to the border with Karnataka. Two main groups of people worship Vithoba as their chief god. These are the Varkari group from Maharashtra and the Haridasa group from Karnataka.

The Varkari poet-saints have written special devotional poems called abhangas. These poems praise Vithoba and are written in the Marathi language. The Haridasa poets have also written poems about Vithoba, but in the Kannada language.

Two very important festivals are celebrated for Vithoba each year. These are Shayani Ekadashi, which happens in the Hindu month of Ashadha, and Prabodini Ekadashi, which is in the Hindu month of Kartik.

Images for kids

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  A 1922 photograph of the Vithoba icon in Pandharpur adorned with jewellery and clothes.

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  Pundalik's temple at Pandharpur

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  The shikhara (tower) of Vithoba's main temple at Pandharpur.

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  An arms-akimbo Vishnu from Udaygiri Caves.

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  Vithoba (left, 4th from top) replaces Buddha in a depiction of the Dashavatar—ten forms of Vishnu—on the door of Sree Balaji Temple, Goa.

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  This bronze image from a home shrine shows Vithoba's traditional look. His right hand gives a blessing, and his left hand holds a conch shell.

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  Vithoba (left) with his wife Rakhumai at the Sion Vitthal temple, Mumbai, decorated for the Diwali festival.

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  A Varkari pilgrim travels from Alandi to Pandharpur. He carries a veena (lute) with a saffron flag and cymbals.

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  The Vitthala temple in Hampi, Karnataka, was built by Krishnadevaraya.

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  Dnyaneshwar's palkhi (palanquin), holding the saint's footwear, is carried in a silver bullock cart from Alandi to Pandharpur.

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  A four-armed Vithoba, from a 19th-century painting in Tiruchchirappalli, Tamil Nadu. Here, Vithoba is shown as Vishnu with hands on hips.

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  The main gate of Vithoba's Pandharpur temple. The first step is a memorial to saint Namdev, and the small blue temple in front is for saint Chokhamela.

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  Thennangur temple, Tamil Nadu.

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  Image of a gopuram (tower) of a Pandharpur temple near Vithoba's central temple. The left panel shows Tukaram, the middle panel shows Vithoba waiting as Pundalik serves his parents, and the right panel shows Dnyaneshwar.

See also

In Spanish: Vithoba para niños